Erin Hale

Pritzker: "People of Illinois, we need your help. Get our your cell phones, record and narrate what you see. Put it on social media. Peacefully ask for badge numbers and identification. Speak up for your neighbors. We need to let the world know that this is happening and that we won't stand for it."

cat distribution system at work

We're paying it forward? Chicago public television used to be a hype man for the Thames Valley Police Department/Scotland Yard.

Apparently Thursday nights on #Fox here in Australia will soon consist of #ChicagoFire followed by #ChicagoPD. I don’t know why we have as much US content on our screens down under, but I guess #ChicagoMartialLaw can’t be far from premiering for the trifecta.

Pritzker: “ICE is running around the Loop harassing people for not being white. Just a year ago, that was illegal in the United States. Now, ICE is making it commonplace.”

Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald who took down the mob is coming back Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, 64, served as a US attorney in Chicago for more than a decade, and he is a longtime friend and former colleague of Comey, 64.

Legendary, veteran prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, known for targeting Osama bin Laden and bringing down the Illinois mob, is coming out of retirement to defend former FBI director James Comey.

Saudi Arabia’s plan to become the crown prince of gaming With avowed “massive gamer” Mohammed bin Salman at the helm, the kingdom’s insatiable appetite and bottomless riches are already remaking the global video game industry.

From December 2023: With avowed ‘massive gamer’ Mohammed bin Salman at the helm, the kingdom’s insatiable appetite and bottomless riches are already remaking the global video game industry.

Read more from @lewisgordon.bsky.social:

From the taiwan community on Reddit: Russian/Chinese bot accounts flooding Threads trying to sow discord and profit from chaos. Explore this post and more from the taiwan community

Redditors are reporting that Taiwan Threads - a very popular platform here – is getting flooded with Chinese and Russian bots. It's very timely as there is a lot of doubt in the government after the deadly flood last week in Hualien.
www.reddit.com/r/taiwan/com...

The President cannot commandeer any local law enforcement.
The President does not run the Smithsonian.
The monthly BLS jobs report is required by law.
Release the Epstein files.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

A little bit of an update

The Japanese Church Dedicated to Anne Frank On Christian Zionism, Peace, Shrines, and Gaza

In 2023, I visited an Anne Frank-themed church in Japan, where Christians pray for the Jews and the restoration of Israel in a sanctuary built to resemble the "secret annex." My reporting and reflections w valuable input from Rev. Thomas Hastings and more:
jordynhaime.substack.com/p/the-japane...

Hong Kong taxi trade wants subsidised health checks amid calls for tougher rules Public calls for annual checks after spate of crashes involving older drivers, but taxi trade warns that move could prompt more cabbies to quit.

Following a horrific incident involving a head-on collision of a Filipino tourist by an 80-year old taxi driver, the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association has objected to stricter health checks among cab drivers, saying more drivers would quit the trade

www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

What is the chikungunya virus, how are countries such as China battling it? Since the start of 2025, about 240,000 people have been infected with chikungunya, with 90 deaths in 16 countries.

What is chikugunya anyway?
I had it once. I was covered in a rash that looked like the measles, just in time for Xi Jinping to visit Cambodia. Heat + fever is also a weird experience, as someone from a cold climate.

www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/....

I got this once! Living in Taiwan, we really don't get to experience the same illness roulette as living in Cambodia.

I’m watching a live stream

Such an important point:

“Progressive policies…are very popular in this country…but you have a segment of the Democratic Party that keeps trying to convince progressives we’re losing elections because their policies need to be more moderate.” Matt Dowd

I wish more understood this.

A confession…
🧵

Gaza aid distribution declared ‘orchestrated killing’ by MSF Medical relief agency has treated more than 1,300 patients for wounds sustained near notorious GHF aid sites in Gaza.

Medical relief agency has treated more than 1,300 patients for wounds sustained near notorious GHF aid sites in Gaza.

Trump’s transshipment crackdown spells danger for Southeast Asian economies Trump’s 40 percent tariff on transshipped goods casts clouds over ‘China Plus One’ manufacturing model.

Trump's transshipment tariff is meant to target China, but it could spell disaster for Southeast Asia and the China Plus One supply chain.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/...

This morning, ICE rolled into a Home Depot parking lot using a moving truck loaded w/agents, like a Trojan horse, to snatch up Latino workers. Whoever they could find. No idea if they were undocumented or not.

That’s not enforcement. That’s racial profiling, and violates a standing court order.

Life-saving idea! Pass it on!

(Chart by @kjoules) Hong Kong Red & Black Rainstorm Warnings hoisted, since March 1998, yearly, with total duration under the Black Rainstorm Warning

A history of Red and Black Rainstorm Warnings in Hong Kong, since they began in March 1998

After Xi The succession question obscuring China’s future—and unsettling its present.

Useful and comprehensive read about many of the questions that will go into the question of whoever comes next after Xi, though I suspect that won't be anytime soon

www.foreignaffairs.com/china/after-...

Problem 4 ‼️What about urban warfare? What about integrating Taiwan's landscape? 🌆

As was pointed out to me, the overgrown jungle-like hills (that are everywhere), mountains, and forest offer excellent cover for a defending army. ⛰️

3/ Problem 2 ‼️ Taiwan needs thousands of drones to train with - which means break/damage/destroy. They can't just stockpile them and hope for the best. 🫥

Problem 3 ‼️ Drones are only as good as battlefield intelligence and conditions. Drone tech is changing weekly in Ukraine. 🇺🇦

2/ 🇺🇸 The US Naval Institute:"During the opening volleys of a conflict with China, Taipei and Beijing would be expected to churn through thousands of UAVs on a daily, if not hourly, basis.

👉Taiwan’s recent purchase of ~ 1000 US UAV would sustain just 4-5volleys against the PLA.

In the shadow of China, Taiwan is building a drone army to stop an invasion Taipei sees homegrown drones as key to its defence, but analysts say its plans do not go far enough.

1/ Taiwan's drone ambitions are too small. 🇹🇼 wants to make 15,000 drones/month by 2028 + acquire 700 military grade UAV + 3422 dual use + maybe 47,000 (not set in stone) + 1000 US UAV.

👉 Ukraine, by contrast, is aiming to make 200,000 drones/month in 2025 🇺🇦

www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/...

Today marks 50 years since the Khmer Rouge took Phnom Penh - April 17, 1975z

The Cambodian People’s Party had used the KR, the war and their role in helping to topple Pol Pot’s genocidal regime to stay in power ever since.

aje.io/uomv8z via @AJEnglish

POV: you have a clingy cat (work set up)

YouTube video by ANRI - Topic WINDY SUMMER

Happy Monday (sort of) ~ Today's track: 1983's WINDY SUMMER by ANRI (Japan)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dri...